subtlety etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: subtilitee, from Anglo-Norman French subtiltee, from Latin subtilitatem (nominative subtilitas), from subtilis ("fine, thin, subtle").

Meaning:

• The quality of being fine, delicate, or difficult to detect.
• A subtle or clever distinction or idea.
• A hint or suggestion of something.

Origin:

The Latin word "subtilis" originally meant "thin" or "fine." Over time, it came to be used in a figurative sense to describe something that is difficult to detect or understand. In the 14th century, the word "subtiltee" was introduced into English from Anglo-Norman French. It initially referred to a subtle or clever argument, but it later broadened in meaning to include the broader concept of something that is difficult to detect or understand.

subtlety relate terms

• subtle

  Etymology Sub Latin prefix meaning under slightly or less Tilis Latin adjec

• text

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It examines the diff

• subtile

  Etymology Latin subtilis Middle French soutil Old French soltil Meaning P

• subtile

  Etymology Latin subtilis Middle French soutil Old French soltil Meaning P

• subtle

  Etymology Sub Latin prefix meaning under slightly or less Tilis Latin adjec

• subtle

  Etymology Sub Latin prefix meaning under slightly or less Tilis Latin adjec

• subtlety

  Etymology Middle English subtilitee from Anglo Norman French subtiltee from Latin su

• subtility

  Etymology Derived from the Latin word subtilis meaning thin fine delicate Ultim

• subtlety

  Etymology Middle English subtilitee from Anglo Norman French subtiltee from Latin su

• subtile

  Etymology Latin subtilis Middle French soutil Old French soltil Meaning P

• nuance

  Etymology Late Middle English from Old French nuance from Medieval Latin nuantia fro

• nicety

  Etymology The word nicety is derived from the Middle French word nicete meaning del

• shade

  Etymology Old English sceadu shadow shade Proto Germanic skadu Proto Indo Europe

• chicanery

  Etymology The term chicanery derives from the Old French word chicaner which means

• quodlibet

  Etymology and Origin Quodlibet is a Latin word derived from the phrase quod libet meanin

• chic

  Etymology The word chic entered the English language in the late 19th century borrowe

• compass

  Etymology Old French compas Latin compassus stride Vulgar Latin compassare to

• signification

  Etymology Latin significāre Roots signum sign ficāre to make Meaning

• difficulty

  Etymology From Old French difficulté from Latin difficultas from difficilis meaning

• refinement

  Etymology French refinement Late Latin raffinatio Latin raffinare to make pure Pr